Texas Rangers Rumors: Team Would be Foolish to Trade for Michael Young

By Jeric Griffin

Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

With the Philadelphia Phillies essentially out of the playoff race a day before the 2013 MLB trade deadline, rumors are swirling left and right about a possible trade that would send Michael Young back to the Texas Rangers to play out the final year of his contract.

The Dallas Morning News reports Young will only waive his no-trade clause for a deal that would send him back to Texas; he will not approve a trade to any other team. ESPN Dallas reports Rangers manger Ron Washington is lobbying Texas general manager Jon Daniels for “another bat that can possibly be an impact” at the trade deadline, so it’s easy to see why everyone is putting two and two together here, but a deal for Young is a terrible idea.

Look, it would be great to see Young in a Rangers uniform again for what could likely be the end of his career, but the last thing Texas needs to do is give up more prospects for an average rental/reunion. Unless Young is going to start batting .300 again and he can play right field, the Rangers don’t need him.

Young was less than spectacular in his last year with the Rangers to put it politely; he hit .277 with only eight home runs and 67 RBIs, both way down from his career averages. Not to mention, his defensive ability has also declined over the past two years and that was evident in 2012 when everyone in Arlington was calling for his benching. In fact, one of the most legendary Rangers of all time was called “the problem” in Texas this time last year. Put simply, there was a reason Young was traded to Philly in December.

The Phillies seem set on trading Young by the deadline after calling up Cody Asche on Tuesday but fortunately, a deal with Texas is highly unlikely. Again, it would be great to see Young in a Rangers uniform again, but he wouldn’t improve the team at all and Texas. It’s a nice thought from a non-baseball perspective, but bringing Young back to Arlington just doesn’t make sense.